Family Affair'Imagenes Flamencas' Yaelisa returns, but this year, she brings some close friends

Rachel Howard

Thursday, October 12, 2006

For the latest home season of Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos this weekend, though, she's going to keep things a little on the lighter side. In "Imagenes Flamencas," she's tapped the visual talents of Bay Area singer Roberto Zamora, projecting his vivid, pastel-washed portraits of dancers across the Cowell Theater. "My productions tend to be dark and serious, and his work is bright and fantasy-like," she says.

The show should bring a welcome lushness for Yaelisa admirers after last year's pared-down production, in which she shared the stage with just one other dancer. This year, Yaelisa has recruited top protegee Melissa Cruz, a full-bodied Filipina who can funk with the best of them, along with Los Angeles' Briseyda Zarate. Nimble-fingered music director Jason "El Rubio" McGuire will return after a season's hiatus, and Spanish imports Felix de Lola and Manuel Malena will help out with the throaty cante, or song. "I love bringing my guest artists from Spain," she says. "They're family to me."

Magic garden Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos BY RITA FELCIANO Wednesday December 19, 2007A most welcome gift arrived Dec. 12: pure dance, pure music, and pure poetry. It was "Jardín de Mis Sueños," Caminos Flamencos' new show (repeating in Mountain View on Dec. 21) and the last one at ODC Theater, which starts extensive renovations in January. Caminos Flamencos artistic director Yaelisa put together a most appealing evening of good dancing in which each artist's contribution threw a different light on flamenco.

When Yaelisa clacks out flamenco rhythms, you can almost hear the lightning crackle and feel the heat rising. Good thing flamenco dancers can't start forest fires; otherwise, California's current number could escalate perilously.

Watch for sparks this Sunday at 7 p.m., at Project Artaud Theater in San Francisco, when Yaelisa creates "En Tablao" in a nightclub setting. Theatergoers are gathered at cafe tables that seat four and are invited to eat and drink in what feels like an animated temple atmosphere — reverent, and yet loudly passionate.

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